Exercise bar for bed



Feb. 19, 1963 E. H; MAYER .3,077,613

EXERCISE BAE FoE BED Filed Nov. e, 1959 /EzI/fzzzar fom/v H. M4 me United States Patent 3,077,613 EXERClSE BAR FOR BED. Edwin H, Mayer, Racine, Wis., assigner to Simmons Company, New Yaris, N.Y a corporationl ofrDelaware FiledY Nov. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 851,305 3 Claims. (Ci. 5-317) This invention relates generally to exercise bars for hospital beds. MoreA specifically, this invention is directed t'o, and has for its principal object the provision of, anew and improved exercise'b'ar whichis readily s'ecurable to a b ,ed frame and includes a swiveling' boom and'sturdy lock for clamping the boom in any one of a predetermined number ofA positions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE'I is a perspective view of an exercise bar in accordance with the invention, shown secured to the headframe of a hospital bed and having a trapeZe suspended therefromwithin graspw of a patient of the bed;

FIGURE 2 vis lan enlarged fragmentary view of the exercise bar of FIGURE 1 showing the component par'tsof theswivel and lock in exploded relation and partially broken away for clearer illustration; and

FGURE 3 isL an enlarged perspective view of the clamp used to secure the exercisel bar to'the lower portion of the headframe. Y

As seen in FIGURE 1, an exercise bar 9 in accordance with the invention comprises a lower post member 11 which is clamped to the end'fr'ame 13 of a hospital bed, and an upper swiveling post 15 which may bebent to provide an overhead boom 17 vforsu's'pendin g'uor supporting variousmedical or therapeutic'devices, such as the illustrated trapeze bar 19. Selective. positioning of the supported trapeze bar relative to a patient is provided by a swivel bearing 21 at the junction of the two posts 11 and 15, the bearing 21 carrying the weightof the swivel post, bloom and any sustained loads. The bearing 21, a s will be explained in detail, also 4limits the swinging movement olf the boom 17 to a half-circular' arc over the bed surface and includes va lock for securing the boom `17 in any one of several intermediatev positions withinthe are.

Considering the structure in greater detail, the lower post 11 is a metal tube of generally square c ross section which is clamped, in an upright position, to the outside of thehead end frame 13 of a bed'bya pair oflateral1y spaced C clamps 23'whic'h engage the vupper end of the, end frame, and by la clamp 25 which secures the lower end of the post to a cross bar 27 of the vend frame.

More :particularly, each upper clamp 23 is sidewardlyJ offset from the lower post member 11 by a spacer bar 29- which is`wel`ded to a side ofthe lower post member at its upper end. The C clamps 234 are disposed with their open sides down and with their movable pressure plates 31 situated to engage the back lof the end frame, thereby also locating the hand knobs 33 of the screws on the back of the end frame.

The lower clamp 25, by which the lower end of the post member 11is xed to the end frame, is slidable along the length of the lower post member 11 to facilitate mounting of the exercise bar 9 on end frames of various heights. Specifically, the clamp 25 comprises a C clamp 35"; anda U shaped member or strap'36 which is welded to the sides of the end' leg 37 of the C clamp 35 to form a sleeve 38 through which the post 11 is slidable. When the clamp 25 is assembled to the post member 11, the open side of the C clamp faces downwardly and the hand knob 46 extends inwardly under the bed. At its lower end, the post 11 is provided with a removable projection 39, such as a cap or screw head, to prevent the clamp 25 from sliding olf the end of the post.

3,077,613 Patented Feb. 19, 11963 Each engaging face ofthe various cla-111138.23 and ,25 is preferably provided with a pad 41 of linoleu-m or other similar material which prevents scratching or other damage to the finish of the engaged surface.

, At its upper end, the.1ower post` member 11 has welded thereon a flange 43 which carries the weight of and the load on the upper structure. n addition, the `front-edge of the flange is providedwith three notches 45, 4 16, and 47, which form part' of the swivel lock, cooperating with components of the upper post v15, as will be explained.

The swivel' post 15 isaflso formed of metal tubing having a generally square cross section, the boom 17v being reinforced by a diagonal brace 49 which'is welded, at endsto the post 15 andy to the boom` 17. The outer end ofthe boom is preferably capped, as indicated at 51, to provide a finishedappearance,

Secured within the swivel post 15 at its lower end by means of a cross pin 53, is a pivot bar or trunnion 55 of circular cross section which is slidably insertable into the open top'of the lower post 11. Approximately midway of its length the pivot bar 55 carries a'be-aring llange 59 which'bears on its lower surface against the liange to support the swivel post andthe load supported thereby.

In addition to the thrust bearing action of theflan'ges 43j and 59, these components also cooperate tolimit swinging movement'of the swivel post 1'5. As shown in FIGURE 2, the flange 59`is cut away' along a portion'of itsV circumference to provide a pair of opposed shoulders 6 3 which, limitthe angular movement of the swivel post by' engagement' respectively' with an upstanding postor stud y 65"'ixed in the ilan'ge 43'. While the extent of travel ofthe swivel post 15 c an be varied asfdesired, the shoultheplaneofv the e'nd frame 13. A seriesy of notchesv 67 corresponding to the" notches 45 4to 47 of thev lower flangee, areleut in the front of the 'upper' flange 59.` v Ofv these", the 'central notch foi-nis party of the swivel lock, the flanking nilotehesbeing unessential and resulting merely from' use ofthe saine' dieto cut the notches ofA both ans'es'i.; t

Between th'eilirniting positions determined by the shoulders e3 and stop; p`ost`65, the boom 17 maybe locked in any' of three positionsspa'ced equi-angularly from one another and from the shoulders `63, i.e., atabout 45 degrees apart.l

Fixing of the swivel bar in any one of these positions is `accomplished by thel insertion of a locking pin` 69 through thecentralnotch 67 of the uppehilange 59 and intov oneof thre'e'notches" 45, 4'6,` or `47, providedin the flange 43 on the side opposite-the stop posteo. The pin 69 is secured in a bell orcap 71which, in turn, surrounds thelower end of the'swivel post 15 and is` rr'1"oun tV ed thereon" for limited axial and rotational movement. As illustrated, the cap 71 includes a sleeve 73 whieh is* s lidably fittedl over the swivel post 15 andloosely 4se-z cured thereto by the'out'er ends ofthe cross pinl 53 which secures the' pivot ban 55' within the swivel post. From the sleeve 73,' the cap llares'out'wa'rdly in a ring portion 75V to theiundersurface of whieh'the locking pin9"-is fixed, and'th'en extends downwardly'in adepending skirt portion 77 which concealsthe flanges 43 and 59;

Upward disengagement of the locking pin from` the flanges 43 and 59 is permitted by a pair of diametricentral notch 67 in the flange 59 and into clamping engagement with one of the notches 4S to t7 in the flange 43. Movement of the cap 71 to its upper position with the cross pin 53 engaged with the lower edge of the bayonet slots 79 will withdraw the locking pin 69 from the notch in the flange 43 as well as from the central notch 67 in the plate. Counterclockwise rotation of the cap 71, when in its upper position, seats the cross pin 57 in the horizontal leg 81 of the bayonet slots 79 to retain the cap in elevated position, thereby preventing interference with the swinging movement of the swivel post and boom within the arc determined by the shoulder stops 63.

The exercise bar 9 disclosed herein can be readily attached to the end frame of a hospital bed and, after attachment, can be swung through an arc of 180` degrees between either of two storage positions in the plane of the supporting end frame. The boom can be moved to and locked in any one of three positions by lifting the locking cap 7i to disengage the locking pin 69 from the associated notch in the lower ange 43, and moving the boom to the new position. When the locking pin 69 becomes aligned with another notch in the lower flange 43, it falls in by gravity to lock the boom in the new position. if desired, the cap 71 can be secured in its raised position by rotating it counterclockwise, as seen in FGURE, 2, thereby preventing unintended slipping of the stop pin 69 into one of the notches 45, 46, or 47 when the boom is swung between the limit positions.

A further feature of the invention resides in the formation oi the clip d3 by means of which the trapeze 19 is suspended from the boom i7 so as to aiord adjustment of the height of the trapeze over the bed surface. As shown in FEGURE 1, the clip 83 is supported by engagement with the depending eye S of a Q clamp S7 which can be positioned anywhere along the length of the boom. in turn, the clip 33 has fixed thereto a chain 89 which supports the trapeze bar 91.

Focusing on the clip 83 in greater detail, it is generally of S shape having at the end of the base leg 93 a closed loop 95 to which the upper end of the chain 89 is fixed. The clip S3 is positioned with the rearwardly facing C formation extending through the eye 3S so that the weight of the trapeze acts to position the upper leg 97 of the S formation with its free end pointing upwardly. Adjustment of the height of the trapeze bar 9i can be readily accomplished by slipping any desired one of the loops which constitute the chain over the leg 97 to eectively shorten the chain length.

Various features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An exercise bar for hospital beds or the like comprising a hollow post member having clamping means for detachably securing the same in upright position to the end frame of a hospital bed, a bearing tlange iixed at the upper end of said post member, a swivel post extending axially upwardly from said hollow post member and having a boom for extending over the surface of such bed, the lower end of said swivel post being received in the upper end of said hollow post member to journal said swivel post therein for swinging said boom through a horizontal aro, a bearing ilange iixed on said swivel post engaged in face contact with the bearing llange on said hollow post member to transfer the load between the two post members, interengageable stops on said bearing ilanges for limiting the arc of rotation of the boom, one of said bearing ilanges having therein a series of openings and the other having therein an opening alignable successively with those of said series by swinging said boom, and a pin carried by one of said post member and said swivel post, said pin being normally aligned with said one opening and biased for insertion through the openings in both flanges whenever the latter are aligned.

2. An exercise bar for hospital beds or the like comprising a lower tubular post member having clamping means for detachably securing the same in upright position to the end frame of a hospital bed, a bearing flange xed at the upper end of said post member, a swivel post extending axially upwardly from said lower post member and having a boom for extending over the surface of such bed, the lower end of said swivel post being received within the upper end of said lower post member to journal said swivel post to swing the boom through a horizontal arc, a bearing flange iixed on said swivel post engaged in face contact with the bearing liange on said lower post member to transfer the load between the two post members, interengageable stops on said bearing flanges for limiting the are of rotation of the boom, the lower bearing flange having therein a series of openings and the upper ange having therein an opening alignable successively with said series of openings in the lower ilange by the swinging of said boom, a sleeve slidable on said swivel post and having a downwardly open bell normally en closing said engaged flanges, said bell having therein a downwardly extending locking pin insertable through the openings in both flanges when the latter are aligned, thereby to loch the boom.

3. An exercise bar for hospital beds or the like cornprising a lower tubular post member having clamping means for detachably securing the same in upright position to the end frame of a hospital bed, a bearing flange fixed at the upper end of said post member, a swivel post extending axially upwardly from said lower post member and having a boom for extending over the surface of such bed, the lower end of said swivel post being received within the upper end of said lower post member to journal said swivel post to swing the boom through a horizontal arc, a bearing iiange fixed on said swivel post engaged in face contact with the bearing ange on said lower post member to transfer the load between the two post members, interengageable stops on said bearing flanges for limiting the arc or" rotation of the boom, the lower bearing flange having therein a series of openings and the upper flange having therein an opening alignable successively with said series of openings in the lower flange by the swinging of said boom, a sleeve slidable on said swivel post and having a downwardly open bell normally enclosing said engaged ilanges, said bell having therein a downwardly extending locking pin insertable through the openings in both flanges when the latter are aligned, thereby to lock the boom, said sleeve having therein a bayonet slot encompassing a sidewardly projecting pin on said swivel post whereby said sleeve may be lifted to withdraw said locking pin from said openings and rotated to maintain said locking pin out of alignment with the opening in the upper flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,177,473 Bathrick Mar. 28, 1916 1,840,170 NeilS Ian. 5, 1932 2,057,811 Armstrong Oct. 20, 1936 2,109,304 Ormsby Feb. 22, 1938 2,305,548 Nichols Dec. 15, 1942 2,364,493 Ulinski Dec. l5, 1944 2,547,398 Lee Apr. 3, 1951 2,804,216 Farnam Aug. 27, 1957 

1. AN EXERCISE BAR FOR HOSPITAL BEDS OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A HOLLOW POST MEMBER HAVING CLAMPING MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING THE SAME IN UPRIGHT POSITION TO THE END FRAME OF A HOSPITAL BED, A BEARING FLANGE FIXED AT THE UPPER END OF SAID POST MEMBER, A SWIVEL POST EXTENDING AXIALLY UPWARDLY FROM SAID HOLLOW POST MEMBER AND HAVING A BOOM FOR EXTENDING OVER THE SURFACE OF SUCH BED, THE LOWER END OF SAID SWIVEL POST BEING RECEIVED IN THE UPPER END OF SAID HOLLOW POST MEMBER TO JOURNAL SAID SWIVEL POST THEREIN FOR SWINGING SAID BOOM THROUGH A HORIZONTAL ARC, A BEARING FLANGE FIXED ON SAID SWIVEL POST ENGAGED IN FACE CONTACT WITH THE BEARING FLANGE ON SAID HOLLOW POST MEMBER TO TRANSFER THE LOAD BETWEEN THE TWO POST MEMBERS, INTERENGAGEABLE STOPS ON SAID BEARING FLANGES FOR LIMITING THE ARC OF ROTATION OF THE BOOM, ONE OF SAID BEARING FLANGES HAVING THEREIN A SERIES OF OPENINGS AND THE OTHER HAVING THEREIN AN OPENING ALIGNABLE SUCCESSIVELY WITH THOSE OF SAID SERIES BY SWINGING SAID BOOM, AND A PIN CARRIED BY ONE OF SAID POST MEMBER AND SAID SWIVEL POST, SAID PIN BEING NORMALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID ONE OPENING AND BIASED FOR INSERTION THROUGH THE OPENINGS IN BOTH FLANGES WHENEVER THE LATTER ARE ALIGNED. 